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Chaos in the Vatican: Cardinal Becciu resigns – reasons are speculated
An explosion in the Vatican: Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu on Thursday. Becciu was prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Saints and Beatifications. You need to know now:
That happens
Cardinal Becciu offered Pope Francis his resignation on Thursday. He accepted it the same day. With this, the cardinal renounces all his positions and the associated rights.
Angelo Becciu tritt ab. Image: sda
That’s why it’s so special
The process is special for several reasons. For one thing, Becciu is only 72 years old. In principle, the cardinals remain in office until the 80’s. So he resigned 8 years earlier. Furthermore, there is basically no regulated procedure in canon law for the impeachment or resignation of a cardinal. Cardinal dignity is practically inviolable.
In fact, there have only been four such resignations since 1900. Three of them took place under the current Pope. In 2015, Francis accepted the resignation of Keith Patrick O’Brien following allegations of “misconduct.” In 2018, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick resigned, also on allegations of sexual harassment.
Previously, there has only been one such resignation recently. In 1927, Cardinal Louis Billot resigned after a dispute with Pope Pius XI. back, as kathisch.de writes.
Speculation on the reasons
The Vatican communication does not provide any information on the reasons. However, it is speculated in various Italian media that the resignation is related to a financial scandal. The Vatican Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into investment in a luxury real estate project in London in 2019.
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The investigation has already removed from their posts five Vatican officials, the Vatican chief of police and the head of the Vatican finance department. Becciu was responsible for the controversial agreement and had defended it to the end. Experts estimate that he should now have paid for it with his impeachment.
Confusion about wording
Since there is no legal basis for resignation, the impeachment process is difficult. Different formulations were used in the three resignations under Francisco. O’Brien had renounced the rights and privileges of a cardinal, but not the title, according to the announcement at the time.
McCarrick immediately resigned from the College of Cardinals. Becciu was now told that he had renounced “the rights associated with the cardinal’s office.” In doing so, he gives up the right to elect a new pope. It is not yet clear whether he will lose his title as well. (Lion)
